Academic Integrity Policy and Form

As a member of the university community, each faculty member has a responsibility to promote and enforce the academic integrity policy. This responsibility involves appropriate interpretation of the integrity policy and the promotion of conditions favorable to academic integrity and academic citizenship. Instructors should provide:

1. Clear exposition of the values of Elon's integrity policy and students' obligations to uphold the policy
2. The maintenance of order
3. Demonstration of the importance of personal interest, fairness and mutual consideration
4. Uniform procedure in handling violations

It is recommended that faculty ask students to sign an integrity pledge for all tests, examinations and all outside written work which is to be completed independently, indicating that they have neither given nor received unauthorized aid.

Each faculty member should indicate to his/her classes the policies regarding assigned work done outside of class, indicating when and how collaboration and use of resources is acceptable.

If an instructor has reason to believe that a student has violated the integrity policy by cheating, plagiarizing, lying, stealing, vandalizing or facilitating academic dishonesty in others, he/she is to indicate to the student that there is a problem and arrange for a meeting. During that meeting the charge is to be explained to the student, and the student is asked whether he/she wishes to take responsibility.

In cases where students take responsibility, the instructor should assign sanctions related to the course and return the completed Incident Form to the assistant vice president for academic affairs.

In cases where the student does not take responsibility, the instructor should complete the Incident Form, taking it and any evidence to the assistant vice president for academic affairs who will arrange for a hearing before the judicial board.

The instructor is responsible for completing the grade report for the course the student is enrolled in. In no case may an honor code F (or any reduction in grades or student credit for work) be assigned in a course without the necessary paperwork and procedures having been followed to verify an integrity violation has occurred and the student was made aware of the charge.

The office of the provost/vice president for academic affairs will determine and administer any institutional sanctions (in addition to course related sanctions given by the faculty). Institutional sanctions include, but are not limited to probation, suspension or dismissal from the institution for students whose violations are grievous or repeat offenses.

In order to monitor the integrity behaviors and record of each student, it is vital that instructors submit an incident report for each student who has violated the integrity policy, even when the faculty members elects to assign only minimal (or no) course sanctions.